Participants in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which began on Wednesday (4) in Brasília, called for a fairer international order. In their view, there must be a global decision-making structure in which emerging countries take part in key decisions.

The forum, which concludes on Thursday (5), brings together representatives from 15 countries — 10 BRICS member states and 5 partner countries — and a total of 248 parliamentarians, including 195 international delegates, 35 Brazilian federal deputies, and 18 senators. BRICS serves as a platform for political and diplomatic coordination and cooperation among countries of the so-called Global South.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta, used the opening session to advocate for the reform of international organisations in order to ensure a framework of peace and security in conflict resolution. “It is unacceptable and increasingly, blatantly ineffective for the decision-making structures of the United Nations system to continue reflecting the post–World War II world, rather than the geopolitical dynamics of the 21st century,” he stated.

Senate President Davi Alcolumbre affirmed that respect for political differences and international dialogue are “the only essential instruments for peace and progress.” He also emphasised the importance of national legislatures in shaping public policies across the world. “Let parliaments express themselves autonomously and in a way that complements the initiatives proposed by governments, as they help shape international cooperation on issues of the utmost importance to society,” he said.

Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, currently serving as President of the Republic, presented a list of items from the BRICS legislative agenda, which includes, among other points, strengthening the bloc’s institutional framework and fostering economic development through the reduction of trade barriers and a focus on green technology.

Senator Humberto Costa (PT–PE), the BRICS Parliamentary Coordinator in the Federal Senate, stated: “We are not peripheral, and we refuse to be treated as such. We support a new global political and economic order. We wish — and deserve — to be treated as major players, as key protagonists in a new geopolitical outlook.”

The BRICS Parliamentary Coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, Fausto Pinato (PP–SP), stated that the bloc’s expansion offers a unique opportunity to build alliances among countries with diverse capabilities in areas such as industry, agriculture, and health. In his view, it makes no sense for a single country — in a veiled reference to the United States under Donald Trump — to hold global hegemony.

Economic Development
During a debate on “Seeking New Paths for Economic Development,” heads of delegations from BRICS parliaments advocated for the reform of multilateral financial systems so they better reflect the new global trade order, in which a broader range of international actors play a relevant role.

According to Tidimalo Legwase, representative of South Africa’s National Council of Provinces, BRICS parliaments must support efforts to reform the Bretton Woods institutions so that their governance becomes more representative and reflects the development priorities of emerging markets and less developed countries.

The Bretton Woods Conference took place at the end of World War II and established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and what would later become the World Bank, laying the foundation for the new international financial order.

According to Alexander Zhukov, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the underrepresentation of developing countries prevents these institutions from serving all nations equally. “It is crucial to depoliticize the Bretton Woods institutions. Many actors use the IMF and the World Bank to advance their own interests and reinforce neocolonial practices in global affairs,” he stated.

Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament, MP Om Birla, said his country supports “a fair and rules-based global trading system” that adequately addresses the needs and aspirations of the so-called Global South — a term used to describe countries facing similar development challenges, despite cultural differences. “BRICS countries must collectively undertake concrete efforts to enhance the South’s participation in these institutions,” he emphasized.

Meeting on Global Health
During the health-focused session, participants of the Forum reiterated the need for a broad multilateral agreement among BRICS countries to jointly address potential future pandemics. According to them, the goal is to strengthen epidemic prevention and response, promote equitable access to vaccines, and establish a cooperation model grounded in solidarity-based action.